July 26, 1999
MEDICAL TIPS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS
1. Caring for Summer Wounds -- When does a wound need medical attention? That's a common question in the summer, when outdoor activities lead to more emergency department visits. Thomas Terndrup, M.D., UAB chairman of emergency medicine, says most lacerations can be handled at home with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, antibiotic ointment and bandages. Some, however, require immediate medical care. Those include: wounds that still bleed after five minutes of pressure; those whose edges are separated by more than a few millimeters, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas; deep wounds or gashes; nail punctures; human or animal bites; wounds with dirt, glass or metal inside; lacerations that lead to fever, swelling, or difficulty with moving or feeling. Call Hank Black, Media Relations, 934-8938.
2. Alternative UTI Screening Process -- An alternative way of screening urine specimens for urinary tract infections could reduce the number of lab cultures performed each year and reduce antibiotic usage, according to a study by UAB pediatrician Andrew Lorincz, M.D., published in the July issue of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. The technique is performed in a physician's office and requires only a single droplet of urine and a fluorescence microscope. "This technique would allow physicians or laboratory technologists to determine in five minutes or less whether a culture is needed, eliminating the culturing of 70 percent of specimens. It would also minimize the practice of prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics while waiting 24 to 48 hours for the results of a culture." Call Joy Carter, Media Relations, 934-1676.
3. UAB Program Goes National -- A group of volunteers from across the country will gather in Birmingham July 13-14 to learn how to help people and families coping with long-term illnesses. They are the first of a national network of volunteers who will build and maintain Care Teams in their home communities. "Care Teams serve as extended families for people with long-term illnesses, disabilities or other special needs," says Malcolm Marler, D.Min., director of the UAB Care Team Network. "They provide practical, emotional and spiritual support." UAB first began organizing Care Teams five years ago to care for AIDS patients. The program expanded in 1997 to help others with chronic illnesses. Contact the Care Team Network at [email protected] or at 975-9129.
4. Build Up to Fitness -- A recent UAB study shows that high-intensity exercise, such as running or aerobics, provides benefits that low-intensity workout may not, but the prospect is daunting to many. "Many people don't like high-intensity exercise because of their lack of fitness," says Gary Hunter, Ph.D., a UAB exercise physiologist. Fitness experts have recommended low-intensity exercise, like walking, for weight control. High-intensity exercise increases a person's resting energy expenditure so they burn more calories at rest as well as during exercise. Hunter recommends combining low- and high-intensity exercises like jogging a few minutes and then walking a few minutes as a way to elevate one's energy expenditure, improve fitness and boost one's tolerance for exercise. Call Hunter, 934-8338/[email protected].
5. Eye That Chlorine Level -- The wrong amount of chlorine in swimming pools can do more than cause bloodshot eyes. "Overly chlorinated pools can cause edema - swelling that can distort vision -- and too little chlorine can lead to eye infections like conjunctivitis," says John Classe', O.D., UAB School of Optometry professor and sports vision specialist. "Swimming in pools while wearing soft contact lenses can also cause them to stick temporarily to the eye. This happens as higher chlorine levels cause osmotic pressure to increase, pulling fluid out of the cornea and causing discomfort when lenses are removed." He recommends swimmers wear goggles to prevent eye problems. Call Melanie Parker, Media Relations, 934-8935.
6. Anti-Fungal Advance -- Clinical researchers have found that fat molecules called lipids can provide an effective envelope for delivering broad-based antibiotics to patients with the systemic fungal infections that can ravage compromised immune systems. UAB infectious disease specialist William Dismukes, M.D., was an investigator in a study of one such formulation. The study showed that lipid delivery is less toxic, although no more powerful, than traditional systems. Their drawback: they are 10 times more expensive. "Although the cost/benefit ratio of the lipid formulations is controversial, they undeniably represent one of the most significant advances in systemic fungal infection treatment in 40 years" Patients with life-threatening mold infections are among those who will achieve the greatest benefit. Call Hank Black, Media Relations, 934-8938.
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